NSW Police unveils armed response command in wake of Bondi terror attack
A special unit of NSW Police will be armed with assault rifles and deployed outside major attractions and events to respond to serious threats.
The Armed Response Command (ARC), announced by police on Thursday, has been created in “direct response” to the Bondi terror attack in December last year which left 14 innocent people dead, Premier Chris Minns said.
The ARC will be deployed at mass public events, but also have the ability to quickly respond to emerging situations. NSW Police
On that occasion, responding police officers armed with pistols and sidearms were up against two shooters with long-arm rifles.
They managed to shoot one attacker dead and seriously wound the other alleged shooter.
“Things needed to change after that horrific event,” Minns said.
He said the ARC would have the ability to be quickly deployed to rapidly emerging situations with the aim of nullifying them and protecting the public.
The program has been in development for months and received a $94 million investment from the NSW government.
Officers have been trained to use the weapons and have also taken an advanced driving course.
The 250 officers part of the ARC will be provided access to heavy weaponry and new cars. NSW Police
When the ARC is at full strength, it will have 250 officers and 24 purpose-built vehicles that are designed to safely secure the combat assault rifles that will be used.
Minns said it would be an adjustment for the Sydney public but that it would be for the good of Australia’s largest city.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the ARC would not be deployed to things like protests or prolonged sieges, telling media the public order and riot squad would still be used for these situations.
“Major events, certainly; where there are major public gatherings. If we need to provide reassurance to the community in that space, their role is to be mobile,” he said of the ARC’s role.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon claimed early public feedback to the ARC had been positive. NSW Police
“Their role is to be everywhere across the metropolitan area to respond to situations as required.
“But if the intelligence that says there is a risk to a particular event, we will make sure that they are deployed with other policing resources.”
He said early public feedback had supported the move, and he wanted Sydneysiders to feel safe.
“If it will relax the public… I want to make sure the public feel safe, having heavily trained officers is a reassurance factor for the community,” he said.
Lanyon said he was incredibly proud of how first responders acted during the Bondi shooting, but added it highlighted a gap in police procedure and structure.
“What we saw at Bondi was an incident that evolved very quickly,” he said.
“I was very proud of our first responding police, the way they responded with short arms, with side arms, is incredible.
“The way they were able to solve that situation is a credit to them.
“But I want to make sure that those police and the community have access to long arms quickly to solve those situations.”
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